I felt compelled to write something about Professor Yirush because I felt like a lot of the harsh criticism he's getting on here is not warranted.

His course layout was excellent - lectures were good for contextualizing the readings, and you get a comprehensive look at American history through a plethora of primary sources. I've never taken a history class before that didn't rely completely on secondary sources, so I appreciated Professor Yirush taking the time to find and assign such good sources. He offers thoughtful responses to questions, is an engaging lecturer who is not monotone at all, and is overall a great teacher.

I'm not saying this because the course was easy. On the contrary, you have to work for the grade. But Professor Yirush's emphasis on excellence in writing can only benefit you in the long run. Go to lecture, do the readings, OUTLINE the readings, prepare extensively for the midterm and final, and you will succeed in this class.